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Cathodes for microbial electrolysis cells and microbial fuel cells

a fuel cell and electrolysis cell technology, applied in cell components, electrochemical generators, manufacturing tools, etc., can solve the problems of limited performance of current cathodes and mfcs, and the need for expensive materials for current cathodes, so as to enhance an electrical potential

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-05-13
PENN STATE RES FOUND
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]A microbial electrolysis apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention includes a power source operably connected to add voltage to enhance an electrical potential between the anode and cathode.
[0026]Embodiments of a biological process for producing hydrogen further include application of a voltage in the range of 25-1000 millivolts, enhancing an electrical potential between the anode and cathode.

Problems solved by technology

Performance of current MECs and MFCs can be limited by the cathode and current cathodes require expensive materials, such as platinum.

Method used

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  • Cathodes for microbial electrolysis cells and microbial fuel cells
  • Cathodes for microbial electrolysis cells and microbial fuel cells
  • Cathodes for microbial electrolysis cells and microbial fuel cells

Examples

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example 1

[0164]Cathodes

[0165]SS brush cathodes (Gordon Brush Mfg Co., Inc., Commerce, Calif.) were made of grade 304 SS, which has the composition: 0.08% C, 2% Mn, 0.045% P, 0.03% S, 1% Si, 18-20% Cr, and 8-11% Ni (balance Fe) (ASTM. Document number A 959-07. Standard guide for specifying harmonized standard grade compositions for wrought stainless steels. Table 1. Chemical Composition Limits, %., Oct. 4, 2008). The bristles (0.008 cm diameter) were wound into a twisted SS core (0.20 cm diameter) using an industrial brush manufacturing machine. The brushes were 2.5 cm long and 2.5 cm in diameter. On the basis of the mass and estimated surface area of the bristles, each brush (100% loading case) had 310 cm2 of surface area, producing 2500 m2 / m3-brush volume (95% porosity), for a specific surface area of AS=650 m2 / m3 of reactor volume. In some tests, brushes with reduced bristle loadings of 50%, 25%, and 10% were used, with surface areas of 160 cm2 (AS=340 m2 / m3), 110 cm2 (AS=240 m2 / m3), and m...

example 2

[0183]Hydrogen production in an MEC using a cathode made of stainless steel, nickel, and stainless steel with a high nickel content. Single-chamber MEC reactors were constructed from polycarbonate cut to produce a cylindrical chamber 4 cm long by 3 cm in diameter (empty bed volume of 28 mL). The anodes were ammonia treated graphite brushes, 25 mm diameter×25 mm length, 0.22 m2 surface area. Ammonia treatment of the graphite brushes was accomplished as described in Example 1.

[0184]Reactors were inoculated with the anode solution from another acetate-fed MEC reactor that had been running for over 1 year and acetate (1 g / L) in medium. The medium used was a 50 mM phosphate buffer solution (4.58 g / L Na2HPO4 and 2.45 g / L Na2HPO4·H2O; pH=7.0), 0.31 g / L NH4Cl, 0.13 g / L KCl, and trace vitamins and minerals.

[0185]Cathodes of stainless steel alloys 304, 316, 420 and A286 or nickel alloys 201, 400, 625 and HX were made by cutting sheet metal (McMaster-Carr, IL) into 3.8 cm diameter disks. Metal...

example 3

[0204]Hydrogen production in an MEC using a cathode with electrochemically deposited nickel oxide. The same reactor and conditions were examined as described in Example 2, except here a nickel oxide catalyst was deposited through cathodic electrodeposition onto a sheet metal support using a 12.9 cm2 nickel foam anode. Electrodeposition was achieved by applying 20V at ˜2 A for 30 s (1696 power source, B&K Precision, CA) in a solution containing 12 mM Ni SO4 and 20 mM (NH4)2SO4 at a pH=2.0 by adding H2SO4. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) scans were performed on the electrodeposited metal to ensure consistent electrodeposition. Tests were conducted in a Lexan cell using a 50 mM phosphate buffer, a Ag / AgCl reference electrode, and a platinum counter electrode (3 cm×5 mm) with a scan range of 0.2 to −1.2V and a scan rate of 3 mVs−1. Consistent electrodeposition was confirmed as all nickel oxide cathodes had similar hydrogen evolution potentials between −0.65 and −0.70V. The electrodes were subse...

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Abstract

An apparatus is provided according to embodiments of the present invention which includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reaction chamber and an exterior of the reaction chamber; exoelectrogenic bacteria disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber; an aqueous medium having a pH in the range of 3-9, inclusive, the aqueous medium including an organic substrate oxidizable by exoelectrogenic bacteria and the medium disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber. An inventive apparatus further includes an anode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber; and a brush or mesh cathode including stainless steel, nickel or titanium, the cathode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 141,511, filed Dec. 30, 2008. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 145,722, filed Jun. 25, 2008 which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 945,991, filed Jun. 25, 2007. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 145,722 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 180,454, filed Jul. 13, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,453, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 588,022, filed Jul. 14, 2004 and 60 / 608,703, filed Sep. 10, 2004. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 145,722 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 799,194, filed May 1, 2007, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 796,761, filed May 2, 2006.[0002]This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. p...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C25B1/04C25B9/00C25B11/04B05D5/00
CPCH01M4/8605H01M4/8657H01M4/8853H01M4/9008Y02E60/527H01M4/92H01M8/16H01M2004/8689Y02E60/366H01M4/9016Y02E60/36Y02E60/50
Inventor LOGAN, BRUCECALL, DOUGLASMERRILL, MATTHEWCHENG, SHAOAN
Owner PENN STATE RES FOUND
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